Automatic vacuum cleaner



April 14, 1953 G. H. CRANMER 2,634,819

AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANER Filed Sept. 21, 1949 6 Shee'ts-Sheet l (D fir] 'a @y HIE |1|11||l l l; ,Fl I@ co l l I o L s -f l E() J (l I b H N O 'f1 k if Q, C, C, J O Q1.) L u I H a.

l w 'il l ivlm l E INKENTOR. j GEORGE H. CRAN/MER BY j TTORNZY April 14, 1953 G. H. CRANMER 2,634,819

AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANER Filed Sept. 21, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE H CRANMER ATTORNEY 9 5 RvR Y M t mm M 2 w NN. D, 4 E O 3 w Vm W 6., w m C A 2 e ...n e w @o/ G Y B G H CRANMER AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANER April 14, 1953 Flled sept 21, 1949 Aprll 14, 1953 G. H. CRANMER 2,634,819

AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANER Filed Sept. 2l, 1949 6 Sheets-Shawl'. 4

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O 7 f) A I INVENToR.

GEORGE H. CRANME/e BW; M

April 14, 1953 G. H. cRANMl-:R

AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 21, 1949 R. R mm mm VP me. H. m G4 ATTORNEY.

April 14', 1953 G. H. CRANMER AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 2l, 1949 INVENTOR.

GEORGE H CRNMER BY WML? ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES ENT GEFFI'CE;

AUTOMA'IIC VACUUM CLEANER George H. Cranmer, Philadelphia, Pa.,iassignor to. Electrolux.' Corporation,l

01dv Greenwich.

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut, ApplicationSeptember 21, 1949, Serial No; 117,040

cleaner' having mechanically actuatedl self-con-V tained control mechanismsA for removing accumulated dirt" after such an amountl is collectedin a porous disposable bag locatedV withinv the cleaner'as is capable ofeifecting apredetermined change in the operating ef'ciency of the cleaner.

It is a: majorobject of this invention to pro'- vid'e an improved vacuum. cleaner having automaticmeans for'` disposing of dust collected inv a paperbag byV ejecting from the cleaner the porous` disposable paper bag lled with dust separated from the suction air'stream, the ejection of thedust and dirt filled bag-being effected upon the: attainmentl oi a predetermined pressure'drop within the cleaner.

It is: azzfurther and important object hereof tozprovideA completelyA mechanical means for' ef' fecting the automatic'operation of the dust bag ej'ecting' devices.

A still further object is to provide a vacuum cleaner having a large dust collecting capacity which is eiiected at av substantially uniform efficiency.

A further objectiof this invention is to provide a devicev which avoids the inconveniences present in all cleaning devices wherein a dust loaded bag isxused.v and' periodically necessitates occasional removal or replacement in order to maintain efli'cient operation and whereby considerable difficulty and discomture has been heretofore experienced by the operator in the removal of such atfbagfand the accumulated dustiand dirt therein.

Still'lotherfand further objects will be disclosed hereinbelow orfwill be obvious to those skilled inthe art-from a study of `thefollowingdescrip tion togetherl with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure'- 1 is aV partial verticalA sectional View taken=lengthwisethrough a vacuum cleaner embodyingthev features of this invention;

Figure2 lis a partial horizontal sectional view oftlie cleaner shown in Fig. 1 showing' additional details of structure;`

Figure 3 is an end view of the cleaner with the coverA open;

Figure 4' is a partial"v vertical sectional view taken onV theline 4-4' .of'Figg 3 and showngthe bagej'ection' tray'in'; completely extended position', thebag havingheen, ejected' from the cleaner.kv casing;

Figure 5' aL partial perspective view, with portions broken'` away; showing detailed arrange.

mentsV of` the various parts: in". their.l cooperative relationship? Figure 6- is a perspectiveaview'of: the surgearresting momentum or gravity ment shown inposition inFig.-5 pivoted onand adapted to movefthe with' the main pressureplate; and

away to showtheparts morel clearly;

It is a feature of tire operation of the'cleaner in its dust disposal capacity is. automatic, self-contained and after being once initiated by the establishment of pre--V determined changes ini the operational characteristicsof thelair suction streamv withinV the cleaner, the entire sequence of operations` terminating in the ejection of the dust-lledbag' is effected mechanically. Thus, upon a predetermined pressure difference being built up within the cleaner between the inside' and the outside of the dust-filled bag which exerts acontinuous progressively increasing force upon'v a pressure plate, a series or sequence of spring actuated steps is initiated resulting finally in the ejection of the dust-iilled bag from the cleaner. casing. In ar preferred embodiment, the pressurek plate upon` gradual actuation nally releases the cover of the cleaner; this in turn breaks a circuit cutting off the power supply to the motor fan unit and after a predetermined drop in the air suction current a second or auxiliary pressure plate releases the bag ejectorv tray, thereby ejecting the dust-filled bag fromr the cleaner casing and out upon the floor.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the automatic dust bag ejection unit is spring` actuated and its operation is efected by a tripping mechanism utilizing the pressure exerted by theI bag toinitiate the tripping step. This bagV pressure is caused by a pressure'difference builtA up within the cleaner casingand more particularly Abetween the'inside andv outside of the dust-collecting bag, progressivelyl increasing during the dust collecting proc:- ess; A pressure plate initiating the sequence oi' steps culminating-in bag ejection is operated by the dust bag surface which' exerts more and more force against' the plate, the pressure increasing. With continued'l dust collection; The

force exerted Y thus progressively increases; and' actuated; ele#Y this invention that theen Fig. '7, pivoted at 6| and biased by spring 64 for holding the cover` closed. The release of the cover rst breaks a circuit at contact points 62 through release of plunger 63 which is spring biased to the left, Fig. 7. This deenergizes the motor fan unit. Thereafter the front cover continues to open and after opening a full 90, another trigger mechanism (described below) for finally releasing the bag ejector tray is tripped, allowing the bag ejector tray to push the bag outward and eject the bag and its contained dirt from the cleaner casin Y The ejector tray 82, Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, moves outward when nally released until it strikes a stop |50 in the forepart of the dust bag carrying sleeve 20. The momentum of the moving dustlled bag 22 causes it to continue on out of the cleaner after which it lands on the iioor. y

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, vacuum cleaner housing I 0, Fig. 1, is a hollow casing having a handle 'II and appropriately supported on a pair'of runners I2. The suction or inlet portion of the casing I is provided with a conventional air inlet or suction nozzle which is connected by a suitable wand and flexible hose (none of which are shown) to connecting coupling |3 of a movable cover I4 biased to open position by spring I5 and hinged at I6, Fig. 2, to form a'n air tight seal with the casing I0 through reinforcing body ring member I8 and conventional sealing rings 28. Switch member |1, Figs. 1 and2, provides the on and off manual control vfor the cleaner unit. l A perforated sleeve 20 for holding a dust bag 22 (of disposable paper or cloth construction) is slidably fitted and affixed within the cleaner housing I0. In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 20 is substantially rectangular in cross-section, Fig. 3, and is thus adapted to take a long dust bag of substantially similar square-shaped crosssection. f The dust bag 22, Fig. 1, comprises a container of paper or similarly air pervious, dust impervious, material 24 affixed at its mouth to the rear surface of a hard paper or cardboard disc 26, the latter of which is clamped between cover I4 and the end of cylinder I0 with the aid of suitable sealing rings 28, Fig. 3. Cardboard disc 26 has a central opening 30 through which the inner end of tubular member 32 protrudes in order toA introduce the air and entrained dust directly into the inside oi' dust bag 24.

The entire surface of sleeve housing 20 is provided with perforations 2I, Fig. 4, in order to allow dust free air to pass therethrough and into chamber 40, the air then passing to spring compression compartment 42 and then to motor fan compartment 44 which contains mounted therein fan 46 and motor 48. The fan is provided with an air inlet 50 through which the air passes to the housing of motor 48 and out through an axial opening in end cap 52.

Aperforated supporting partition extending fromand supported by the cleaner housing I0 has lugs 'l2 mounted thereon for supporting and holding one end of a spiral compression electing spring 14. The other end of the compression spring is shown as fitting into lugs 80 mounted on the rear of an ejector tray 82 including a sleeve which is adapted to slidesmoothly within sleeve housing 20. The length of the sliding contact between the sleeve of ejector tray 82 and the inside of cylindrical sleeve casing 20 is sufflcient to prevent seizing and binding between their contacting surface Ejector tray 82 is held in spring compressing position by the engagement of a lug |00, Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 thereon with an opening |0I, Fig. 2, in the surface of main pressure plate |02 and substantially at the spring biased or right-hand end thereof. YPressure plate |62 moves freely in a cut-out section 83, Figs. 3 and 5, of tray 82 and is pivoted at |84, Fig. 2, to the 4side'of sleeve housing 20, being held or biased towards the central axis of the sleeve casing by springs, such as |06. Thus, upon pushing the tray 82 to the extreme right, Fig. 5, it finally locks into ejector spring compressing position as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. This position facilitates the insertion of the disposable paper dust bag.

This position is maintained after the closure of cover I4 whereupon the cover, contacting plunger IIB, Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, causes inclined plane III to lift the left end of lever I|2 causing the depending right end of lever II2 to enter opening |20 in sleeve 20 and then pass through opening I 2| in the sleeve of ejector tray 82. In this position lever II2 is locked in ejector plate restraining position by the engagement of the right depending end of lever II2 with the upper bent free end of auxiliary pressure plate |30. Auxiliary pressure plate I 30 is fulcrumed at I3I to the inner surface of tray 82.

Auxiliary pressure plate |30, Fig. 1, is biased by leaf spring I 32 to forward position away from the ejector tray surface 82 thus releasing the depending right end of lever II2. The biasing spring |32, Fig. l, is of such predetermined strength as to be maintained in compressed condition by the cooperative action of the end of the dust bag and the air suction current coursing therethrough when the vacuum cleaner is operating under normal dust collecting conditions. Thus even when cover I4 opens and releases pin 0, the auxiliary pressure plate I 30 maintains ejection tray restraining lever II2 in locked condition at its depending right hand end until the air suction produced by the motor fan unit diminishes because the deenergization of the motor fan unit accompanying the breaking of contact 62, Fig. 7, decreases the air suction stream so as to' be no longer capable of holding plate |30 against the contrary biasing action of spring |32. The air suction progressively decreases when the motor fan unit is thus deenergized, i. e. the release of cover closure 6| effects a substantial simultaneous opening of circuit breaking switch 62. Such a de=.

layed release of the sleeve of ejector tray 82 makes possible the utilization of all the energy stored in the compressed ejecting spring 'I4 without any checking or loss of ejecting force due to the counteracting suction of counter-current air passing through the dust bag and cleaner casing.

The cleaner is loaded with a clean bag by first pushing the sleeve of ejecting tray 82 back into its sleeve housing until lug |08 engages opening |0I, Fig. 2 (see also Fig. 5) in the surface of pressure plate |02. The dust collecting bag is -then inserted with the `bag portion inthe sleeve housing 20 and the cardboard disc lying within body ring I8, Fig. 3. When the cover |4 is then closed and the vacuum cleaner is first operated and dust collectedfthe building up of a predetermined pressure within the bag and against main pressure plate |02 causes main pressure plate I 02 to release lug |08 on tray 82, whereupon tray 82 moves forward slightly so as to be free from all, restraints except that of the depending rightv hand end of lever II2, Fig. 1 and Fig. 5.

`"Ihen further collection ofdust and dirt builds masacre: y

up a greater and greater pressureedifference with-- inthe cleaner casing and between the inside and.E outside of the dust bag. This results in the dust collecting paper bag 22 exerting greater and greater pressure on pressure plate |02, Fig. 2. If a sudden surge or gust of air enters the dust bag as is occasioned by the sudden liftingV of the dust collecting nozzle and wand oiiv a carpetv being cleaned and on. to thebare floor, the sud'- den movement of pressure plate |02 is arrested by movable-weighted dog |60', Figs'. 2' and' 6, piv oted at |6| (see Fig. 6) on pressure plate m2 moving straight out and because of its momentum remaining in its upward position and abutting against fixed ledge |62. Thus cover tripping pin |40, Figs. 2 and 5 is kept fromv contacting button IM enlever arm |43 and releasing the cover latch Bfon cover le whenever a sudden surge or gust of airpasses through the cleaner dust'bag 22.

However, when the pressure difference within the cleaner casing and between theinside and outside of the dust collecting bag builds up slowly, movable arm |60 under the action of gravity then slides down the inclined plane |63 and passes on through opening |613 with one continuous motion, and pin |40 is then free to contact button |li| to release cover latch 6B. The release of cover latch 60, Fig. 7 which is spring biased to move outwardly by spring 64, also releases plunger 63 which is in turn spring biased to move to the left and cause circuit breaking switch 65 to break the motor fan energizing circuit at contacts B2. Then the release of spring biased cover I4 leaves cover i4 free to swing Wide open. This allows plunger Htl, which is spring biased to the left, Figs. l and 5, to release the left end of lever arm ||2 which is then triggered or conditioned for release by the pressure exerted by biasing spring |32 against auxiliary pressure plate |36.

The ejector tray 82 is held in spring compressing position until the depending right hand' end of lever ||2 is itself released by the slowing down of the deenergized motor fan unit which causes auxiliary pressure plate |38, Fig. 5, to move to the left and release the locked depending end of lever |l2. Lever ||2`which is spring biased to moveI countereclockwise then releases ejector tray B2 which is forced forward in its sleeve 20 by compressed ejectork spring 'M Ejector tray 82 is haltedby limit stopsV |58, Fig. 4. The dust illedY bag, pushed by tray 82', gathers momentum in its.

outwardtraveland having nothing tov impede itsv progressY is ejected out through. the opening left intheV casing by the outwardy swinging ofA cover Ul and is. depositedvon the floor.

Itis to be understood that the embodiment herein speciflcally described is merely illustrative of the general principles involved in this invention. and that the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claimis:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable meansfor holding said cover in closed position, means for producing a, flow of air through said casing, a dust bag in said casing in the path of said air ow for separating entrained dirt from said, air, means responsive to pressure exerted by said dust bag for releasing said cover holding means, mechanical means for arresting the operation of said pressure responsive means upon the production of a surge of air now through said casing,.releas able means for ejecting said dust bag, and auxilf iary delayed response means conditioned for operationiupon'. the'- opening ofsaid 'covert-:Eoledelay--1 ing thereleaseoi said dusti bag ejecting means.:

2; In a vacuum.cleaner.,the combinationicomeprising acasing having, an opening; a.. movable; cover for said opening, releasablemeans forholdf-` ing said oo verinY closed positiommeans for'pror ducing av now of: air through l saidv casing, a. dust; bag..in.saidxcasing. in; theip-athofgsaid airow for' separatingA entraincdv dirtzfromzsaid air, principal.'

means responsive-,to .pressure exertedwby'said dust bag or' releasing; said coverholding means', 12eleasablefmeans for ejecting said dust'bag; means? responsive. to the opening-ofl said. cover-for'-con:-A

ditioningV said bag ejecting means'. for release.

switching meansiresponsiveetathe'openingfofi said;

coverv for deenergizing the. air flowmproducing:

means.' and 4auxiliary meansiresphnsive.to"pressureV exerted by'saidldust'bag for delaying the.- release'. of said bagA electing means vuntil the pressure. exierted. by said dust" bag attains" a, predetermined'` minimumv whereby the'Ybag-ejecting means; is rsa-- pable of. more effective ejection-of` theidust'bag.

3.` In a vacuum cleaner, the combination; com-- releasable means for ejecting said dust bag, means responsive to the opening of said cover for con-- ditioning said bag ejecting means for release, switching means responsive to the opening of said cover for deenergizing the air ilow` producing means, auxiliary means responsive to pressure'ex` erted by said dust bag for delaying the release, of said bag ejecting means until the pressure ex-v erted by said dust bag attains a. predetermined minimum whereby the bag' eiectingv means is capable of more elective ejection of the dust bag;

and means operatedl by said principal pressure.

responsive means for arresting the operation of Said pressure responsive means upon the'produchtion of a surge of air flow through said casing.V

4. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, a movable'v cover for vsaid opening, releasable latching means for holding said cover in closed position, means for producing a flow of air through said casing; ar dust bagin said casing inthe path of said air flow for separatingl entrained dir-t from saidair, amain pressure plate disposed laterallyin. said'` casing and movable,A by pressure.. exerted therei- V against by said bag for'releasing said cover hold,- ing means, releasable means OrejeCtingsaid'dust. bag, means responsive toY the openingA of said cover for conditioning said bag ejectingfmeansv forY release, switching means, responsive to the. opening of said cover for deenergizing the air now producing means, and an auxiliary pressure plate adjacent the endof saidk bag in said casing' and movableby pressure exerted by'said dustbag. fordelaying the release ofsaid bagejecting means until the pressure exerted by saidA dust bag atY tains a predetermined minimum, whereby thebag-r` ejecting means is capable of. more: effective ejection or the dust bag.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, the combinationxcomzprising a casing having an opening, a movablel cover for said opening, releasable latching means for holding said cover in closed position, means;

for producing a flowof air through said casinga'w dustV bag; in. said casing `in the path of said' airv ow` for separating'entrained dirt `from said'air, primary means responsive to pressure exerted by said dust bag for releasing said cover holding means, releasable means for ejecting said dust bag, means responsive to the opening of said cover for conditioning said bag ejecting means for release, switching means responsive to the opening of said cover for deenergizing the air flow producing means, auxiliary means responsive to pressure exerted by said dust bag for delaying the release of said bag ejecting means until the pressure exerted by said dust bag attains a predetermined minimum Whereby the bag ejecting means is capable of more effective ejection of the dust bag, and a pivoted dog member movable horizontally and operated by said primary pressure responsive means, an inclined plane surface over which said dog member is adapted to slide, an abutment for arresting the movement of the dog member when the acceleration of the dog member is greater than the force of gravity tending to cause it to ride on the inclined plane surface for arresting the operation of said pressure responsive means as a result of a surge of air flow through said casing.

6.'In a vacuum cleaner the combination comprising having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for holding said cover in closed position, means for producing a flow of air through said casing, a dust bag in said casing in the path of said air iiow for separating entrained dirt from said air and insertable into and removable from said casing through said opening, mechanical means operable to move said dust bag outwardly through said opening, means responsive to a predetermined pressure exerted by said dust bag for releasing said dust bag moving means for a predetermined portion of its outward travel, means responsive to the application of an additional predetermined pressure by said dust bag beyond said first mentioned pressure for operating said cover releasing means, and means responsive to the opening of said cover for conditioning the means for moving said bag outwardly from said casing through said opening for operation.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for holding said cover in closed position, means for producing a iiow of air through said casing, a dust bag in said casing in the path of said air flow for separating entrained dirt from said air, means responsive to pressure exerted by said dust bag for releasing said cover holding means, releasable means for ejecting said dust bag, means responsive to the opening of said cover for conditioning said bag ejecting means for release, and a pivoted dog member movable horizontally and operated by said pressure responsive means, an inclined plane surface over which said dog member is adapted to slide, an abutment for arresting the movement of the dog member when the acceleration of the dog member is greater than the force of gravity tending to cause it to ride on the inclined plane surface for arresting the operation of said pressure responsive means as a result of a surge of air ow through said casing.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container from said casing throughsaid opening, rst latching means 8 for retaining said ejecting' means in fully retracted position, means responsive to pressure drop through said container for releasing said first latching means and for opening said cover, second latching means for arresting movement of said ejecting means after the latter has been released by said first latching means, and means responsive to opening of said cover for releasing said second latching means.

9. In a Vacuum cleanerfa casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for producing iiow of air through said casing, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air now therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container from said casing through said opening, rst latching means for retaining said ejecting means in fully retracted position, means responsive to pressure drop through said container for releasing said first latching means, second latching means for arresting movement of said ejecting means after the latter has been released by said rst latching means, means responsive to a greater pressure drop through said container for opening said cover, and means responsive to opening of said cover for conditioning said second latching means for release.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for producing now of air through said casing, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container from said casing through said opening, irst latching means for retaining said ejecting means in fully retracted position, means responsive to increasing pressure drop through said container for releasing said first latching means and for opening said cover, second latching means for arresting movement of said ejeeting means after the latter has been released by said rst latching means, means responsive to opening of said cover for conditioning said second latching means for release, and means responsive to decreasing pressure drop through said container for completing the release of said second latching means.

1l. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air ow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container from said casing through said opening, rst latching means for retaining said ejecting means in fully retracted position, means responsive to increasingA pressure drop through said container for releasing said rst latching means, second latching means for arresting movement of said ejecting means after the latter has been released by said first latching means, means responsive to a greater pressure drop through said container for opening said cover, means responsive to opening of said cover for conditioning said second latching means for release, and means responsive to decreasing pressure drop through said container for completing the release of said second latching means.

V12. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, an electric motor, a fan driven by said motor for producing now of air through said casing, means for supplying current to said motor, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air ow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container from said casing through said opening, first latching means for retainingr said ejecting means in fully retracted position, means responsive to pressure drop through said container for releasing said first latching means and for opening said cover, second latching means for arresting movement of said ejecting means after the latter has been released by said first latching means, and means responsive to opening of said cover for interrupting the supply of currentI to said motor and for releasing said second latching means.

13. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, an electric motor, a fan driven by said motor for producing now of air through said casing, means for supplying current to said motor, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container from said casing through said opening, first latching means for retaining said ejecting means in fully retracted posi- 20 References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Brown, Jr Feb. 14. 1950 Number 

